Greggs name new independent non-executive director

GREGGS has named a former Procter & Gamble financial specialist as its new independent non-executive director.

GREGGS has named a former Procter & Gamble financial specialist as its new independent non-executive director.

Allison Kirkby will also take over as the chair of the Newcastle baker’s audit committee in the spring.

Currently chief financial officer with global media company Shine Group, Kirkby will join the Greggs board from the end of this month.

And she will begin chairing the audit committee following Ian Durant’s appointment as board chairman after Greggs’ Annual General Meeting on May 15.

Kirkby has also worked for Virgin Media as executive director of finance operations and transformation, and before that spent two decades with Procter & Gamble in a variety of senior financial and operational roles.

She chairs the finance committee of In Kind Direct, one of The Prince's Charities, and is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Greggs’ chairman Derek Netherton said: “We are very pleased to welcome Allison to the board. She will bring additional financial expertise and experience, and her background in consumer brand businesses and media organisations will be of great value in the next phase of the development of our brand.”

The appointment was announced a week after Greggs revealed it is refocusing its investment on shop refits rather than new openings in the year ahead. It is aiming to reproduce the high-earning potential of the new Greggs the Bakery concept, which sells different products such as artisan breads, in more branches.

Meanwhile, the company said it was unable to give details of a planned extension of its link-up with the Armed Forces caterer the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute to supply British forces overseas.

Greggs has been exporting frozen pasties and sausage rolls to 2,200 soldiers and their families in Gutersloh in Germany since September ... a move which has been hailed a success.